Xbox One and Windows 8 won’t have cross-play — at least for now

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The next-gen consoles are using x86 processors, the Xbox One is built on the Windows kernel, and most of what makes up online multiplayer is being handled server-side these days. Fundamentally, there isn’t much of a difference between console and PC infrastructure now, but most games still can’t connect players across different platforms. Why is that? Why hasn’t Microsoft exploited its platforms to the fullest? Redmond is finally discussing the possibility of cross-platform multiplayer, but the answers given remain unsatisfactory.

In an interview with AusGamers, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer candidly talks about the potential for multiplayer games on Windows and Xbox One. He implies that cross-platform multiplayer is something that Microsoft is very much interested in, but he ends up punting on firm details. Spencer cites the imbalance of gamepads and mice as a real-world obstacle — he even name-drops Shadow Run as a specific example of a failure in the cross-platform multiplayer space. Even so, Spencer does go on to say that “this connected ecosystem across all the different devices is definitely where I think the future of gaming is going[…].” Microsoft seems to be moving in this direction, but it’s obviously not sitting at the top of the to-do list for the launch of the Xbox One.

On the other hand, Sony is firing on all cylinders with its platforms. Since the early days of the PlayStation Vita, Sony has been pushing cross-buy, cross-play, and remote play with the PS3. Provided that Sony executes on it promises, we can expect to see much more along these lines once the PS4 launches next month. With the PS3, PS4, Vita, and PS Mobile all receiving access to new games and features like Gaikai game streaming, Sony is primed to implement the reality of “Buy once, play anywhere.” It doesn’t enjoy the same ubiquity as Windows PCs, but the Tokyo-based company is offering some compelling reasons to invest in its ecosystem. With the strong push for cloud-based and local game streaming, the PlayStation devices should play seamlessly together — the specific hardware almost doesn’t matter at that point.

Alas, we’re still dealing mostly with promises and innuendo. True platform-agnostic multiplayer games are far off, and the outcome depends heavily on how this upcoming console generation turns out. If one of the major hardware players is forced to bow-out in the next five-to-ten years, it would completely change the competitive landscape. Until something major changes, all consumers can do is complain to the platform holders, and refuse to buy platform-specific multiplayer games.

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